Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Main Building

Communicating the "realities of the atomic bombing" to future generations through exhibits centered on actual items

  • Cultural Spaces
  • The countless clothes of mobilized students lying in front of me reminded me of the pitiful state of the children.

    The countless clothes of mobilized students lying in front of me reminded me of the pitiful state of the children.

  • A sign of the horrific, chaotic spectacle that is to come beneath the mushroom cloud.

    A sign of the horrific, chaotic spectacle that is to come beneath the mushroom cloud.

  • The remains of a city melted by high temperatures have stuck together and solidified into a desolate, molten solution (donated by Morikawa Shuichi)

    The remains of a city melted by high temperatures have stuck together and solidified into a desolate, molten solution (donated by Morikawa Shuichi)

  • "Swarm": People fleeing between the mushroom cloud and huge fires gradually approaching the hypocenter

    "Swarm": People fleeing between the mushroom cloud and huge fires gradually approaching the hypocenter

  • "Group": Imagine the damage caused by the atomic bomb through multiple black-and-white photographs of human suffering and multiple images of the bomb

    "Group": Imagine the damage caused by the atomic bomb through multiple black-and-white photographs of human suffering and multiple images of the bomb

  • "Individual": Confronting the cries and lamentations of each individual soul

    "Individual": Confronting the cries and lamentations of each individual soul

  • "Individual": Listening to the untold thoughts of atomic bomb survivors that will continue to be felt for future generations

    "Individual": Listening to the untold thoughts of atomic bomb survivors that will continue to be felt for future generations

  • Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Main Building
  • A sign of the horrific, chaotic spectacle that is to come beneath the mushroom cloud.
  • The remains of a city melted by high temperatures have stuck together and solidified into a desolate, molten solution (donated by Morikawa Shuichi)
  • "Swarm": People fleeing between the mushroom cloud and huge fires gradually approaching the hypocenter
  • "Group": Imagine the damage caused by the atomic bomb through multiple black-and-white photographs of human suffering and multiple images of the bomb
  • "Individual": Confronting the cries and lamentations of each individual soul
  • "Individual": Listening to the untold thoughts of atomic bomb survivors that will continue to be felt for future generations

Photo: Nacása & Partners Inc.

About the Project

Overview Following the renovation of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum's East Building in 2017, the Main Building has now been renovated and completely renewed. The museum displays the belongings of the victims and photographs and documents showing the devastation caused by the bombing, and tells the story of what happened in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. In order to create a place to face the suffering of the victims and their families, the museum places emphasis on exhibiting actual materials, aiming to convey the "reality of the bombing" to future generations.
Issues/Themes To create a space that evokes memories of the immeasurable devastation through the "perspective of the atomic bomb survivors."
Space Solution/Realization The exhibition is composed of two areas: one where the indiscriminate damage on August 6th, or "group," is likened to the scene of the tragedy, and one where the path of the victims is re-experienced, and the other where the lamentation of each victim, or "individual," is exhibited, and each person faces their despair and suffering. This series of scenes will create a space where the cries of the souls of the victims from various positions will resonate in the hearts of people all over the world.
Design for Environment We have strived to realize universal design by providing explanatory panels in the main corner in 18 languages, including sign language, and providing audio guidance. In addition, we have endeavored Preservation Planning cultural properties by setting up exhibits that take into account the structure of the building (designed by Kenzo Tange), which has been designated an Important Cultural Property, and by taking into consideration the weight of the exhibits.

Basic Information

Client Hiroshima City
Services Provided Research & Analysis, facility concept planning, Display Planning, Design, Layout, Production, Construction, consulting, Project Management, Website Creation, Booklet Production
Our Team Project Leader: Akifumi Fujii
Design Direction: Toshitake Tanaka
Planning: Shigenobu Kosugi, Eikai Nishikawa
Design: Utsumi Satomi, Fukano Masanori
Signed Direction: Kenji Takahashi
CG production: Takahiro Shimizu, Tomohiro Hirano
Production, Construction: Katsumi Kato
Project Management: Akira Tanuma
Awards "KUKAN DESIGN AWARD 2019" KUKAN OF THE YEAR / Nikkei Inc. Award 2019, Museum and Cultural Spaces Gold Award
38th Display Industry Award Excellence Award (Trade and Industry Commerce and Service Affairs Councilor's Award)
Selected for the 53rd Japan Sign Design Award
"D&AD Awards 2020" (UK) Yellow Pencil (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum)
"ICONIC AWARDS 2020" (Germany) Winner (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum)
Location Hiroshima Prefecture
Open April 2019
Website http://hpmmuseum.jp/
Tag
Toshitake Tanaka

Design Direction

Toshitake Tanaka

He has worked on a wide range of facilities, including museums, children's facilities, and disaster prevention and earthquake disaster facilities. He is strongly committed to establishing a context that connects the theme of each facility to the spatial design, and to creating spaces that spread messages and activities. He is currently traveling around the country with the motto of "creating facilities that people want to visit again and again."

*The shared information and details of the project is accurate as of the date they were posted. There may have been unannounced changes at a later date.